Double award joy for beer shop

A craft beer bottle shop and tap room in Pinner is celebrating after it won two prestigious awards recently.

Beer Asylum, which is on Red Lion Parade, was named Harrow pub of the year by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and Best Small Bar by Best Bar None, an accreditation scheme set up to improve standards in the evening and night time economy with premises competiting to participate.

Owner Jason Carroll said he was very proud of the awards.

He commented: “I think its fantastic especially as the CAMRA award is voted for by its members. I think it’s a nod to a lot of the independents as well. Beer is in my DNA – I worked for Youngs and Fullers so cask beer is high on the agenda for me.”

Jason and his team put on a lot of beer and food tasting nights and have staged 50 such events in under two-and-a-half years.

He said: “We’re all decked out with Bavarian flags and have German beers on draught for Oktoberfest at the moment. We normally have at least 200 different types of beer on sale and can bring some back if they are popular. These nights are about increasing people’s knowledge on beers and the amount they will try.”

Jason, a beer sommelier and a qualified beer judge, said he is thoroughly enjoying running the shop.

He said: “The brewers want to come out and talk to people. It’s a real refreshing vibe and long may it continue.”